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Logan county Fair 4-H night includes
recognitions of 4-Hers, 2022 scramble calf judging, entertainment
and of course the 2023 Scrambles
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[August 08, 2023]
Halfway through fair week, the 4-H scrambles allow children a
chance to use up some energy as they scramble to catch an animal.
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In the scrambles children are organized by age
groups and work to catch different sizes and types of animals turned
loose on the track.
Before the scrambles began Logan County 4-H Extension Director Terri
Casey welcomed everyone followed by LDN’s own Lesleigh Bennett
singing the National Anthem.
New fair royalty Queen Ellyn Martinez, Junior Miss Ellie Wrage and
Little Miss Kodi Eigenbrod were also on hand.
The 4-H Cheer Club members led a few cheers to get the crowd excited
for the scrambles.
Then it was time for the chickens to be released from a big cage.
Eighteen youngsters between the ages of five and seven scurried
around trying to catch one of the eight chickens. It often proved to
be a challenge as the chickens dodged back and forth to avoid
capture. Charlee Gleason persisted and caught three chickens.
LDN’s own Heather Gaule also got in on the action
when a chicken kept circling her. Seeing a little girl who was a bit
scared to grab the chicken, Gaule grabbed it. With Gaule holding the
chicken’s side and the child holding its top and bottom, they
carried it to the middle together.
As each child caught a chicken, they were given a goodie bag. One
lucky child who caught the golden rooster received a five dollar
bill.
Next, twelve youngsters between the ages of eight and ten tried to
rope one of the six wily goats scrambling around the track. Some of
them wrestled with goat as they tried to get a rope around it.
Ten Pre-teens and young teens between the age of ten
and fifteen wrangled with pigs lathered up with conditioner by the
newly crowned fair royalty.
To make it even more challenging, participant’s arms are covered
with soap suds.
The slathered pigs kept slipping out of the children’s grasps but
were finally all caught.
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For the final and most exciting part of the evening,
twelve youth between the ages of twelve and eighteen participated in
a calf scramble, struggling to harness a feisty calf that may weigh
up to 350 pounds.
Those who caught a calf get to keep them and raise them for next
year’s steer competition, which is judged during the scrambles. Four
of the calves played “hard to get” before finally being roped.
These calves will be brought back for judging at next year’s
scrambles.
Last year’s winners brought their calves back to be judged on
fitting, grooming, record keeping and showmanship.
This year’s overall winner for the steer competition Kennedy Finchum.
There was initially a tie between Porter Schwantz and Kennedy
Finchum. However, with the judge’s tiebreaker, Finchum placed first
and Schwantz placed second. Rowan Allspach received third place.
In between scrambles, several were recognized for various
accomplishments.
4-H scholarships were awarded to 4-H members Clay Aylesworth,
Stephen Starasta and Klarissa Helton and 4-H alum Miranda Nelson.
Illinois State 4-H award winners were Sophia
Schneider and Haven Henry.
Graduating seniors in 4-H included Jayda Allspach, Stephen Starasta
and Paige Simpson.
The 2023 Hall of Fame award winner is Amy Hyde, who worked 20 years
for the Logan County 4-H Extension office as a 4-H program
coordinator. She was well known around the county as the coordinator
for agriculture in the classroom in local schools. Students loved
Hyde for the way she helped engage students and connect agriculture
to the real world.
The evening’s events were lively and entertaining with all the
children scrambling to catch the animals and thoroughly enjoy
themselves. For the scholarship winners, the memories of their time
in 4-H will likely last for years.
[Angela Reiners with Photos by
Heather Gaule and JA Hodgdon] |
